Release device for hold open door closers



June 18, 1963 E. L. SCHLAGE RELEASE DEVICE FOR HOLD OPEN DOOR CLOSERS 4 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Nov. 21, 1960 INVENTOR. EMESTLSCHLAGE A T TO/PNEVS June 18, 1963 E. SCHLAGE 3,094,200

RELEASE DEVICE FOR HOLD OPEN DOOR CLOSERS Filed Nov. 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-3 F/6 4 VENTOR. ERNEST SGHLAGE BY 1 WME /W -Z V June 18, 1963 E. L. SCHLAGE 3,094,200

RELEASE DEVICE FOR HOLD OPEN DOOR CLOSERS Filed Nov. 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ERNEST L. SCHLAGE MMW AT TORNE vs June 18, 1963 E. L. SCHLAGE 3,094,200

RELEASE DEVICE FOR HOLD OPEN DOOR CLOSERS Filed NOV. 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/ I loo 50 I02 INVENTOR.

ERNEST L. SCHL AGE lOl BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,094,200 RELEASE DEVICE FOR HOLD OPEN DOOR CLOSERS Ernest L; Schlage, Hillsborough, Califi, assignor to Schlage Lock Company, a corporation Filed Nov. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 70,635 1 Claim. (Cl. 189-50) This invention relates to a mechanism for releasing a hlold open device'of the type adapted to be used on a door c oser.

Especially in public buildings and the like, door closers are provided with a so-called hold open device which functions to prevent operative movement of the door closer at a'particular, stationary, open position of the door. Such hold open devices conventionally provide frictionally engageable surfaces which are jammed together by opening the door to a particular location at which the door will be held until the surfaces are manually unjammed or disengaged by initiating closing of the door.

Since it is not uncommon for doors so equipped to be left unattended in the open position, it is highly desirable that provision be made for automatically closing the doors in the event of fire or for closing all doors in a particular building from a single remote location. Heretofore, fusible links which melt and separate at a predetermined temperature have been employed in hold open release devices for permitting a door closer to close the door in the event of fire. The placement of such fusible links has, however, been restricted to a location adjacent the door closer itself, in which position the fusible links may not satisfactorily and timely respond to an elevated temperature. The above applies to windows and other closures.

It is an object of this invention to provide a release mechanism for a device on a closure such as a door and which mechanism may be operated remotely from such device.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a release mechanism for a hold open device such as a door closer in which "a temperature actuated release device may be positioned at one or more or a variety of desirable locations.

A further object of this invention is .the provision of a release device for a hold open door closer which, even after prolonged periods of non-use, will reliably operate torelease the hold open mechanism and permit operative movement of the door closer.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a release mechanism for a hold open door closer, in which mechanism a plurality of heat responsive release members may be employed and wherein response of any one of such members will release the door closer for operative movement.

Other objects and advantages will i become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a door closerconnected between a door and its frame and showing one-form of the release mechanism of this invention in place thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the hold open mechanism of the door closer of FIG. 1;-

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the hold open device of the door closer of FIG. 1, showing a portion of the releasev mechanism associated therewith in the holding position;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view similar to FIG. 3 showing a portion of the release device in the released position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the elements of the hold open device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of a hold open door closer and amodified form of the release mechanism of this invention showing a fusible link device at a location different from that of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a form of electrically operated remote release device for use with the release mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of another form of electrically actuated remote release device for use in connection with the release mechanism of FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 9'is a top plan view of an arrangement of fusible link devices in parallel for use with the release mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a plurality of fusible link devices arranged in series for use with the release mechanism of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 is a .top plan view of a fusible link device for use in connection with the release mechanism of FIG. 1 and incorporating a heating element.

Referring to FIG. 1, the mechanism of this invention is adapted to be used in connection with a door closer, generally designated 1, provided with a hold open device, generally designated 2 (FIG. 2). Door closer I is of the type having a pinion shaft 3- supported in and projecting outwardly of the top and bottom of the door closer body 4 which is adapted to be mounted on a door 5. One of the ends of pinion shaft 3 is operatively connected through articulated arms 6, 7 to a bracket 8 supported on the door frame 9 (FIG. 1) for transmitting the force of the door closer spring applied to pinion shaft 3 to close the door 5. The construction and operation of door closer of this type is similar to that shown in US. Pat. 2,723,416, issued November 15, 1955.

Door closers of this type may be provided with various hold open devices which function to render the closing force of the door closers inoperative at a particular location so that the door will be held open when unattended. One of such hold open devices, illustrated in FIG. 2, is similar to that disclosed in application Serial No. 762,641 filed September 22, 1958, now Patent No. 3,028,619,

issued April :10, 1962. Such hold open device, generally designated 2, is supported on the end 10 of shaft 3 opposite the end to which arm 6 is connected. The hold open device comprises a sleeve 11 mounted on end 10 of pinion shaft 3 for rotation therewith and having a radially projecting flange 12 and external splines 13'.

A thrust plate 14 in the form of a ring is received on sleeve 11 superposed over flange 12 and is provided, with a plurality of radially outwardly projecting teeth 15 engaging a complementary plurality of slots 16 in a cylindrical housing 17 which encloses end 10. of shaft 3 and sleeve 11. The outer end of housing 17-is apertured to receive a flanged adjustment nut 18 which is threadedly received on the outer end of sleeve 11. p

A cylindrical cover 19 extends over housing 17 and is held in place to prevent entrance of dust and dirt into the hold open device by the flange on nut 18 engaging the central aperture of said cover. The fingers 20 formed in the cylindrical side-wall of housing 17 between slots 16 (FIG. 5) surround the fixed hub 21 on door closer body 4 and may be clamped or jammed to frictional engagement therewith by clamping elements 22, 23 (FIG. 2). When so clamped housing '17 will remain stationary with hub 21 and door closerbody 4.

Alternately stacked on thrust plate 14 and surrounding sleeve '11 are a plurality of apertured plates 24 and friction rings 25. Each plate 24 is provided with radially inwardly projecting teeth engaging the splines 13 on sleeve 11 and each friction ring 25 is provided with radially outwardly projecting teeth engaging the slots 16 in housing 17. Plates 24 therefore rotate with sleeve 11 and rings 25 are similarly locked to housing 17.

Thrust plate 14 is supported spaced slightly above flange 12 by one or more pair of ball bearings 26, 27. Ball bearings 26 are received in spherical depressions in the lower side of thrust plate 14 and balls 27 are received in similarly radially located spherical depressions in the upper surface of flange 12 for each pair of said ball bearings. Normally, upon rotation of thrust plate 14 with respect to flange 12 ball bearings 26 will ride on the upper surface of said flange and balls 27 will ride on the lower surface of said thrust plate. A frusto-conical spring washer 28 engaging the upper surface of the upper plate 24 serves to compress the stack of plates 24, rings 25, and thrust plate '14 when nut 18, which engages the upper surface of washer 28, is tightened.

With the fingers of housing 17 clamped by members 22, 23 against hub 4, rotation of pinion shaft 3 by opening the door to which the closer is attached causes sleeve 11 and flange 12 to carry ball bearings 27 from their original positions spaced circumferentially from ball bearings 26 into the hold open position in which the latter engage the former. During such engagement ball bearings 27 function like cams and tend to drive ball bearings 26 upwardly along with their associated plate 14. This camming action jams plates 24 and rings into substantial friction engagement sufficient that it cannot be overcome by the tendency of the door closer spring to rotate pinion shaft 3 in the opposite direction.

It will be noted that during rotation of shaft 3 and sleeve 11 plates 24 rotate therewith while thrust plate 14 and friction rings 25 remain stationary with housing 17. The frictional engagement created by camming action of ball bearings 26, 27 effectively locks together stationary housing 17 and pinion shaft 3 through sleeve 11 so that operative movement of the door closer under the influence of its spring is effectively prevented and the door will be held in the open position. Adjustment of such position with respect to the frame 9 may, of course, be made by loosening clamping elements 22, 23 and rotating housing 17 and thrust plate 14 to the desired position.

In order to close the door it is merely necessary to manually push the door toward closing position with suflicient force to overcome the friction of plates 24 and discs 25 and separate balls 26 and 27 so that the door closer spring becomes operative to rotate pinion shaft 3 and close the door in the usual manner.

In the normal use of a hold open device, such as device 2, clam-ping elements 22, 23 are secured in the clamping position to the body of the door closer so that the hold open device functions as described. The release mechanism of this invention, generally designated 31, is for the purpose of automatically releasing hold open device 2 under certain circumstances without the necessity of manipulating door 5. Clamping elements 22, 23 therefore form a par-t of the release mechanism 31 (FIG. 3) and are incorporated as arcuate portions of a pair of elongated legs 32, 33. At one end legs 32, 33 are connected together at a bracket 34 secured to door closer body 4. One leg 33 may be adjustably so secured by a bolt 35 and said legs are so connected to bracket 34 as to permit limited swinging movement away from each other. This may be done by articulating the connection or making legs 32, 33 sufiiciently flexible to permit such spreading.

The end portions of legs 32, 33 opposite arcuate portions 22, 23 from bracket 34 are connected by means of a rigid, U-shaped lock lever 36 which is pivotally connected to one leg 33 by pivot pin 37 and by the engagement of an edge 38 (FIG. 4) of said lock lever with a cam follower or projecting pin 39 secured to a correspondingly opposite point on leg 32. When in the locked position of FIG. 3 lever 36 holds legs 32, 33 together with suflicient force for clamp elements 22, 23 to securely clamp fingers 20 of housing 17 to hub 21. Lever 36 is held in the locked position by connection of an extension 40 thereon to the extended end of leg 32 by means to be specifically described.

The edge 38 in engagement with pin 39 diverges slightly so that a small portion of the force tending to separate legs 32, 33 is effective to tend to rotate lock lever 36 to the disengaged position of FIG. 4. A torsion spring 41 tending to spread extension 40 from leg 32 may further assure release of the clamping force of mechanism 31 upon disconnection of the means holding lock lever 36 in the engaged position of FIG. 3.

The structure and function of the release mechanism thus far described is not unlike that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,954,106, issued September 27, 1960, in that the effect of the release mechanism 31 in the clamped position of FIG. 3 is to jam together or frictionally engage surfaces of the hold open device 2 operative to hold the door in an open position by resisting the normal action of the door closer 1 to close such door. Upon release of mechanism 31 by rotation of lock lever 36 to the disengaged position of FIG. 4, legs 32, 33 and clamping portions 22, 23 thereof are permitted to spread apart sufficiently to release housing 17 of hold open device 2 for rotation with respect to hub 21. Assuming that the hold open device 2 is holding the door 5 open at the time of such release the door closer spring will be able to rotate pinion shaft 3, along with the entire hold open device 2 so as to close the door 5 in the normal manner of operation of door closer 1.

It will also be noted that the lock lever 36 of release mechanism 31 is provided with a pair of downturned tabs or stops 42, 43 (FIG. 3) similar to those provided in the device of Pat. No. 2,954,106, for the purpose of preventing rotation of lock lever past the open position of FIG. 4 necessary to release the clamping or jamming effect of clamping portions 22, 23 of legs 32, 33.

In the specific description of the device of said patent the end of one leg and the extension on the lock lever are connected directly by a fusible link attached to upstanding posts 44, 45 thereon. Connecting a fusible link in such location on the device of this invention (FIG. 1) would hinder its effectiveness in the event of fire because it would be shielded to some extent by the door 5 and the door closer I from the hot gasses passing through the door opening in frame 9.

In the release mechanism of this invention, therefore, posts 44, 45 on leg 32 and extension 40 are respectively connected to the outer casing 48 and the inner core 49 of a flexible cable, generally designated 50. The other end of casing 48 of cable 50 may be connected to a post 51 (FIG. 1) supported on a bracket, such as bracket 8, with core 49 extending through such post and connected to one end of a fusible link 52. The other end of fusible link 52 is connected to a stationary post 53 on another portion of bracket 8.

In this manner, fusible link 52, or other heat responsive element such as a frangible tube filled with volatile fluid creates a tension in core 49 of flexible cable 50 which serves to hold extension 40 of lock lever 36 in a position adjacent the end of leg 32. In effect, fusible link 52 connects extension 40 and leg '32 to hold lock lever 36 in the engaged position of FIG. 3 but may be positioned remotely therefrom by applying its connecting force through the medium of flexible cable 50.

When connected in this manner fusible link 52 may be positioned wherever desirable to be most sensitive to temperature conditions which are to be sensed by the fusible link for the purpose of releasing mechanism 31 and permitting operative movement of the door closer I. A preferable location for fusible link 52 to react most rapidly to an emergency fire condition is adjacent the top of the door opening in frame 9, as illustrated in FIG. 1, where the hot gasses from a fire on either side of the door :are most likely to first melt the fusible material on the link and permit separation of its halves. Such separation would permit lock lever 36 to move to the released position of FIG. 4 thereby releasing the hold open device 2 for rotation with normal operation of door closer 1.

It is preferable that fusible link 52 be supported away from portions of bracket 8 and other metallic structures, as shown, so that it will be influenced only by hot gases or radiant heat from a fire. It is-also desirable that the connectors between fusible link 52, post 53 and core 49 of cable StHbe insulated against heat transfer from other metallic pants, as disclosed in Pat. No. 2,954,106.

It will be apparent thatthe specific embodiment of the invention herein described, that is. a releasing means for releasing a hold open device on a door closer is only anexample and that the inventionmay also be used on windows, for'example, whether motor means is employedto open or close them.

Broadly, the combination of thisinvention will be seen (FIG. 1) to include force applying means, such as door closer I, for applying a closing (or opening) force to a-door 5" (or other closure member, such as a window) mounted in an opening in a wall (usually bounded by a frame 9). The door closer is provided with holding means z which' functions to preventor counteract the operative application of the force to the door so long as the-holding means isnot disabled by the release mechanism 31-. Thelatter is held in its releasepreventing or nondi'sabling position by the remotely located release preventing means 52. Upon the fusible link (or other embodiment of the release preventing means) being fused or actuated to its releasing position the release mechanism disables the holding means 2'- and thereby enables the force applying means 1 to act.

B'y-the use of such remote connecting mechanism the placement of the fusible link may be varied as desired so as to-best ser-veits purpose of reacting quickly to elevated temperatures caused by fire. One such varied position may be at the opposite side of the door or in the next room from the door--closer 1, as shown in FIG. 6. In the device illustrated in FIG. 6 the release mechanism 54 includes a pair of clamping members 55, 56 and a lock lever 57 connected in the same manner and performing thesame, function as the corresponding parts of mechanism 31'except that members 55, 56 extend to the side of hold open device 2. The end of member 55 and the extension 58 on lock member 57 are connected in the same manner by a flexible cable 59 which passes through a bore in a door 5, or the wall or frame in which said door is mounted, for connection to bracket 60 in the side thereof opposite the door closer 1. A similar fusible link 61 is connected to the core of cable 59 and the fixed post 62 on bracket 60, as in the modification of FIG. 1, for the similar function of holding mechanism 54 in the clamped position. P anting of fusible link 61 at a suitably elevated temperature causes mechanism 54 to be released so that door closer I may operate to close the door.

The devices of FIGS. 7 land 8 are connecting means which may be employed in place of fusible links 52, 61 in the mechanisms of FIGS. 1 and 6. Such devices may be directly connected between legs 32, 55 and extensions 40, 58 or they may be remotely connected at the ends of flexible cables, such as cables 50 and 59, if desired.

The remotely operable device, generally designated 65, of FIG. 7 comprises a housing 66 having an electrically operated latch unit, generally designated 67, supported therein and eye means 68, 69 at opposite ends thereof for connection to the posts 44, 45 of the release mechanism 31 of FIG. 1 or post 53 and the remote end of flexible cable core 49. Eye 68 may be formed as an integral part of housing 66 and eye 69 is connected by a rod 70 (or the core 49 of flexible cable 50 may be directly connected) to an arm 71 swingably supported on a pivot pin 7 2 to housing 66. A latch arm 73 pivotally connected to housing 66 by a central pin 74 is provided with a hook engaging the end of arm 71 remote from pivot pin 72 for maintaining said arm in a position extending between eyes 68, 69. In such position arm 71 and rod 70 hold eyes 68, 69 (and therefore the members connected to said eyes) from separating. Latch arm 73 may be yieldably urged to the latched position by a spring 75.

In the latched position device 65 holds leg 32 and extension 40 of release mechanism 31 together in the locked position through either a remote connection, such as iiexible cable 50, or :by being directly connected thereto. An electromagnet 76 supported in housing 66 is operable to attract one end of latch arm 73 thereto, when such magnet is energized, for disengaging the hook at the other end of said latch arm from arm 71; This permits arm 71 to swing to the dot-dash line position shown in FIG. 7 thereby releasing eye 69 for separation from eye 68.

In this manner, by energizing magnet 76 from any convenient remote location the release mechanism 31, formerly heldin the locked position by device65, is permitted' to open to the released position shown in FIG. 4 with the previously described results of permitting operative' movement of the door closer 1. The device of FIG. 7 is particularly useful where it is desired to simultaneous-1y close a number of doors in a building which doors are otherwise held in an open condition by hold open door closers.

Another embodiment of a remotely operable release device is illustrated in FIG. 8 in which a toggle linkage, including pivotally connected links 79 and 80, is swingably connected at one endby a pivot pin 81 to a housing 82. The other end of the toggle linkage is pivotally connected to an arm 83 one end of which is swingably connected by'pin 84 to housing 82 and the other end of which may be connected. to the core 49 of flexible cable 50 for use in conjunction with the release mechanism 31 of FIG. 1.

Housing 82 is adapted to be supported on the door or frame adjacent the door, and the casing 48 of cable 50 is connected to said housing as shown in FIG. 8. In its erected position the toggle linkage 79, supports arm 83 in a position holding core 49 of flexible cable '50 taut so. as to hold release mechanism 31 in the locked position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Toggle linkage 79', 80 is maintained in the erected position (shown in solid lines in FIG. 8) by an electromagnet 85 so long as said electromagnet is energized.

Current may be supplied to electromagnet 85 through a switch or other interrupting means such as a series of fusible links. Upon interruption of the current to the electromagnet, toggle linkage 79, 80 is permitted to collapse to the dot-dash line position shown in FIG. 8, thereby withdrawing the support from arm 83, relaxing the tension in core 49 of flexible cable 50, and permitting release of mechanism 31, as previously described, for permitting operative movement of the door closer. The device of FIG. 8 when connected to a release mechanism such as 31 may thereby be actuated from a remote location either manually or automatically upon electric power failure to inactivate the hold open device on a hold open door closer to permit closing of the door thereby.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate two methods in which a plurality of fusible links may serve to connect, through flexible cables or like means, a release mechanism, such as 31 (FIG. 1), in the clamped position. Either of the systems of the FIGS. 9 and 1() permit positioning fusible links at a number of different locations throughout a room or building so as to further assure release of the mechanism 31 at the first indication of a fire.

In the system of FIG. 9 fusible links 86, 87 are connected in parallel arrangement by means of flexible cables 88, 89 to opposite ends of a floating bar 90, the central portion of which is connected by cable 50 to a release mechanism, such as mechanism 31 of FIG. 1. It will be obvious that any number of fusible links may be connected in this manner and such links positioned wherever desirable around the location of the door so as to be highly sensitive to increased temperatures at any one of the many locations. The fusible links maintain a tension in their connected cables and through bar 90 in cable 50 sufficient to hold release mechanism 31 in the clamped position jamming the :frictionally engage- 7 able surfaces of hold open device 2 for normal operation. Brackets or housings 91, 92, and 93 for links 86, 37 and bar 90 respectively may be suitably employed for connecting said fusible links and cables 88, 89 and 50 in this manner.

Upon parting of any one of the fusible links under the influence of heat, its connected cable will be relaxed permitting the movement of one side of floating bar 90 to the dot-dash line of FIG. 9 and corresponding relaxation of the tension in cable 50 to permit unclamping of mechanism 31.

If desired, fusible links 94, 95 (FIG. 10) may be connected in series with one or more intermediate lengths of flexible cable 96 between a stationary connector 97 and a flexible cable 50 connected in the manner described to the release mechanism 31 of FIG. 1. Connector 97 and the ends of flexible cables 96 and '50 may be supported on wall mounted brackets 98, 99, whereby fusible links 94, 95 maintain cable 50 taut so as to hold release mechanism 31 in the locked position.

Upon fusing of either link 94 or 95 under the influence of heat flexible cable 50 will be relaxed to permit release of clamping mechanism 31 in the manner previously described. Such release of mechanism 31 permits operative movement of the door closer to contain the fire which fused the link 94 or 95. It Will be obvious that any desired number of fusible links may be employed in the arrangements of FIGS. 9 and 10.

Rather than depend upon an elevated temperature caused by fire to defuse a fusible link in the device of this invention, or for the purpose of remotely defusing the link, a heating coil 100 (FIG. 11) may be supported in a housing or bracket 101 adjacent a fusible link 102. Said fusible link may be connected in the manner previously described to flexible cable 50 or directly to release mechanism 31 for holding said release mechanism in the locked position of FIG. 3. Heating coil 100 may serve either to compensate for a low ambient temperature or, when suflicient current is supplied thereto, may be used to remotely defuse link 102 for releasing mechanism 31.

As a modification of the device of FIG. 11 a heating Wire may be incorporated or embedded in fusible link 102 for the same above purposes.

The foregoing specific description and illustration should not be taken as restrictive of the invention since various modifications could be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

In combination with a door, a door closer connected to said door for applying a closing force thereto, a hold open device connected to said door closer for holding said door open against the application of said force, a release mechanism connected tosaid device for disabling the same and thereby permitting said closer to apply said force when said mechanism is released, a flexible cable connected at one end to said release mechanism and at its other end to a floating bar at a point intermediate the ends of the latter, a pair of additional flexible cables respectively connected at one of their corresponding ends to said bar at points on opposite sides of said first mentioned flexible cable and connected at their opposite corresponding ends to fusible links whereby the tension in said first mentioned cable is relaxed and said release mechanism is released upon fusion of one or the other of said links.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,540,647 Parsons June 2, 1925 2,812,835 Smiley Nov. 12, 1957 2,954,106 Schlage Sept. 27, 1960 

